Lube Jargon and Glossary
Fisters use a variety of unique terms related to lube. These terms may be unfamiliar to new and inexperienced fisters.
ART AND SCIENCE OF FISTING
Fisting requires the acquisition and implementation of new skills and knowledge, especially with regards to lubrication. Becoming familiar with the language of lube, core principles associated with fisting lube, and the most commonly used lubes will help you integrate into the fisting community.
Fisters use a variety of unique terms related to lube. These terms may be unfamiliar to new and inexperienced fisters.
There are three reasons for applying lube: comfort, injury prevention, and connection.
Lubrication decreases friction/drag and wear, two major contributors to discomfort during fisting.
With traditional anal sex, some drag/friction may be pleasurable. The drag/friction caused by a hard-on is minimal compared to a fist, wrist, and arm.
Liberal use of lube diminishes most of the discomfort caused by large objects penetrating or attempting to penetrate the fist chute.
Lube helps prevent various types of fisting injuries. Those injuries include microtears, fissures, and perforations.
Microtears take weeks to months to heal, fissures can require surgical intervention, and perforations can take almost a year to heal before fisting can occur again.
The emotional bond achieved during fisting is linked to a bottom's confidence in the skills of his top.
Misapplication of lube or failure to follow standard practices and etiquette associated with lube affects this confidence.
Proper application of lube signals to a bottom that the top is experienced, attentive, and concerned about his bottom's well-being. This allows the bottom to relax and makes penetration at any depth easier.
Many sex lubes are available, but not all work well for fisting. A lube needs to be slippery, last through play, and be easy to obtain and use. It must also be affordable, especially considering the amount needed for a single session.
Lubes that don't meet all these criteria are impractical for fisting (even though they can be used in a pinch). Among those that do meet all the requirements, personal preference essentially determines which lube is used.
The two most commonly used fisting lubricants are shortening, such as Crisco, and lubes made with a thickening agent called polyethylene oxide (PEO).
PEO is mixed with water to create a thick, slippery, pourable liquid. Shortening, a fatty lipid, is often solid at room temperature.
In addition to PEO and shortening, there are several commercial lubes that are "made-for-fisting" and are typically lipid-petroleum-PEO-silicone hybrids. These include brands such as Elbow Grease and Boy Butter.
While many sex shops sell fisting lubricants, the mark-up is pretty high. Lubes purchased directly from the vendor via a catalog or website are usually the best method for acquiring lube. Although Amazon and Ali Baba offer lubes, there are reports of knockoffs that suffer in quality and safety.
Shortening, like Crisco and Trex, was the original fisting lubricant from the previous century. These and other lipid-based lubes provide excellent base coats and can be used as stand-alone lubricants.
Several commercial hybrid lubes combine petroleum distillates, lipids and PEOs to create silky creams. The cost per ml is substantially higher than shortenings, PEOs, and gums.
FFäusten is a PEO that provides great coverage for punch and depth play. Other lubes in its class include K Lube and X Lube. All three have higher manufacturing standards than J Lube.
Xanthan gum, another powdered emulsifier, can be used alone or in a mix with other ingredients. Gums increase the viscosity and lubricity of lubrication and are common ingredients in food and cosmetics.
Protocols include standard practices and etiquette followed by the majority of the fisting community. Typically, these are things that new fisters pick up over time.
Etiquette refers to how you treat others in a specific fisting scenario.
Standard Practices refer to common sense behaviors related to fisting activities.
With all the ins-and-outs of lubrication, it is easy to become overwhelmed—especially if you are new to fisting. During your first few sessions, your partner or mentor will prepare lube for you, and he will cover basic application and cleanup procedures.
However, within a short time, you are expected to master prep, application, cleanup and other best practices regarding lubrication.
Most fisters adhere to two ideologies regarding lubricant application:
Sufficient application of lube is an early indicator of topping skills. If a top applies too little too late, then the bottom will not open up freely.
Failing to integrate these ideologies may result in serious harm to a bottom, and ostracization within the community if consistently non-compliant.
Preparing and maintaining possession over your lube prevents multiple issues that can put you at risk:
Preparing and maintaining your own lube ensures your lube is safe and free of microbial contaminants or substances introduced by nefarious individuals.
The shelf life of lubricants varies based on several factors. These include exposure to contaminants, the nature of ingredients, and the presence of preservatives.
As a rule of thumb, any lube that was touched during play is contaminated. This includes any contact with your lube bottle. To prevent wasting lube, prepare only what is needed. If excess is prepared, store the extra in separate bottles away from the play area, preferably in the refrigerator or freezer.
Any lube prepared outside of a sterile laboratory will be exposed to contaminants, specifically fungi and bacteria. Lube prepared in humid climates will be colonized much faster than lube prepared in desert climates. So even if a lube has never been exposed to the play area, eventually it will need to be discarded.
Contamination avoided by storing fresh bottles in fridge away from play spaces.
Very few lubes have extended shelf lives. Some are prone to microbial colonization, some are prone to spoilage, and others are prone to decay of active ingredients.
Lubes with these ingredients should be used only once and discarded* within 48 hours after mixing:
Some factors may extend the life of these lubes, including the introduction of preservatives, contamination management protocols, and refrigerated storage.
Attention should be given to expiration dates for these lubes and lube ingredients. If expired or near the expiration date, they should be discarded:
Preservatives can extend the life of lube for a long period of time. Although colonization is unlikely, the active ingredients in these lubes degrade over time and should be discarded no later than three months after mixing.
The following lubrication courses are available from Fist Theory's Handball Academy:
| Course Title | Course ID | Skill Level | Executive Summary |
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Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:
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